Tag Archives: Design

We explore the latest pick of designers who are collaborating with brands out of their field, we share our top pick of the designers who are working across disciplines to bring a fantastic range of products to market.

From fashion greats like Valentino and Ralph Lauren launching homeware collections to Marc Newson being involved in projects ranging from space to pens, we look at how cross-disciplinary design is evolving.

We bring you a cute, micro-crocheted collection of miniature animals lovingly created by Su Ami, a talented family of artists based in Vietnam. They have created a range of micro-crocheted animals from lions to cats and dogs available for sale though their Etsy store.

This year’s (BIID) British Institute of Interior Design’s Annual Conference, AGM and Summer Party 2015 was the biggest conference of BIID’s yet.

Attended by over 240 delegates this year, the conference on Thursday 18th June was held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and was themed ‘Who Do We Think We Are?’ to celebrate BIID’s 50th anniversary. Director of Studies, Anthony Rayworth shares his thoughts and coverage of the day… Read our BIID Annual Conference, AGM & Summer Party coverage here.

Incorporating an antique into your interior design scheme doesn’t have to be difficult, in our ‘Upcycling & Antiques’ blog post we help you to understand how to incorporate antiques into a modern room setting and we share our top upcycling tips.

We have an exciting blog post today that showcases the need for buildings to not only be eco-friendly, energy efficient and sustainable but also the need for buildings to help clean the air around them. We look at architectural examples from around the world that have incorporated sustainable, eco-friendly, innovative solutions into their design.

Interior Design:

We look at the huge 3D printing trend that is improving the cost, speed and projected time lines of several Interior Design projects, from fashion, jewellery and interior to large-scale architectural projects. Take a look at our top 3d printed design projects…

Leading housewares brand Brabantia, world renowned for bringing stylish design to all aspects of kitchen and homeware, is delighted to announce a partnership with the National Design Academy (NDA).

This month Brabantia, supported by the NDA, launched a Design Your Bin competition to find an aspiring designer to create a new design for its 2013 Retro Bin range. The competition is open to all budding creatives throughout the globe – age, experience and location are no barriers.

David Slater, Sales Director at Brabantia, said: “We are delighted to be working with the creative talent from the UK’s largest and most prestigious interior design school. Brabantia is in search of a world-class design that will go into production in 2013 and we are looking forward to seeing the creative concepts from the students at the National Design Academy.”

All students from the NDA who submit a design will enter a sub competition managed by the academy where the winning designer will receive a ‘one of a kind’ Brabantia retro bin featuring their bespoke design. To ensure your entry is included in the NDA sub comp you must email your design to pr2@nda.ac.uk as well as entering it on the main competition website (details below).

Anthony Rayworth, Director of Studies at NDA, said: “This is a fabulous opportunity for our students to show off their creative talents, and it offers a real challenge to be able to create a design that will both stand out and work well in most kitchens. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the designs as they come in.”

The competition is also open to all members of the general public. Anyone with creative flair can submit a design – it could be a favourite photo, a piece of fine art, urban graffiti street art, or a detailed illustration or textile. The winning design will go into production in 2013.

There are six categories: Modern art, Street art, Photography, Illustration, Textiles and handmade and Montage. Any medium will be accepted as long as it can be uploaded and reproduced digitally. Designs need to be uploaded via www.designyourbin.com in JPG format by 10 June 2012.

As well as getting to see their design produced and on sale as part of Brabantia’s range next year, the overall winner selected by Brabantia’s international design panel will also receive a bin featuring their design and 1,500 Euros worth of Brabantia products.

Visitors to the Design Your Bin site are invited to vote for their favourite design. The designer with the most votes will win Brabantia products worth 1,000 Euros.

The winners of the six individual categories as selected by Brabantia’s design panel will each receive their choice of either a London or I’ve Bin Romantic Retro Bin.

All entries are displayed in the Gallery, where the general public can vote for their favourite designs. So what are you waiting for? Are you ready to join the ranks of the Brabantia designers?

I’d just like to thank everyone who has supported The Design Hub and taken the time to read my posts. Sadly however, this is my final post as I will be stepping down as Site Editor from today.

When I first set up this blog I never expected it to become so successful and attract such a fantastic readership base. I’ve grown along The Design Hub and thoroughly enjoyed writing all kinds of posts on Interior Design, as well interviewing designers, shooting videos and generally having a brilliant time!

Do not despair, this does not mean the end of The Design Hub, someone else will step into my shoes and carry it on. If you have come to love my waffle and want to follow me on my design journey, I have created an independent blog Couch Design News, for you to get your teeth into.

I’d like to thank the National Design Academy for giving me the freedom to blog my heart out and support everything that I have done.

This years Decorex event was again spectacular. Set in the grounds of the picturesque Royal Chelsea Hospital and housing some of the globe’s most exquisite interiors, luxury fabric stalls and future trend setters.

The marquee was bustling with designers, suppliers and business folk perusing each stand for something to take their fancy.

One area that certainly took the biscuit was the entrance. Designed by legendary British Interior Designer Nicky Haslam, the space was made to resemble a serene underwater bedroom and study.

Nicky Haslam

Dainty 3D flowers lined the walls, silver silk and velvet fabrics draped over the bed which was set inside a giant oyster shell, positioned in between two large statues. The floors were scattered with sea shells and a vintage film was projected behind the desk accompanied by soft Jazz music.

As a Decorex Blogger runner up, I was invited by Decorex to be involved in a special tweet-up gathering at the event where I met fellow bloggers from the design world and those involved in Blogtour2011 who had travelled over from America.

Just before the tweet-up was about to start, all the bloggers had the rare opportunity to meet Nicky Haslam himself in the Press Room and engage in a short question and answer session.

He sat with everyone for around half an hour sharing his experiences, design tips and advice. The group were hooked and I could see the severe disappointment in their faces when the time came for him to go. But not before a few pictures of course!

Then it was up and onwards to the tweet-up which was a huge success. It was fantastic to converse with other bloggers and be able to exchange tips and experiences. Although, I did have an embarrassing moment when I was asked what my “Twitter handle” was and I replied with, “sorry what’s that?”. So, I’m not as techi savvy as I thought, but on the upside I’ve learned a number of new tricks and terms from the bloggers across the pond. Thank you guys!

Among the top designs of the day for me, were a collection of stunning circle lights made by French company Le Deun Luminaires. The thin handmade lights are made from energy efficient LED’s which last for over 800,000 hours and don’t get hot whilst turned on. Believe me I tested them!

Another great find I know will be popular with the boys, is Billiard Room Ltd. They had two rather exciting tables on show at the event. One which looked like it had been beamed down from space, with it’s hollow centre, sleek white outer shell and bright orange felt lining. The other, lay on top of a metal grille base with neon blue lights fitted underneath and a steel brushed border along the table top. I hear footballers running!

There are of course many more exciting designs that I’d love to include but would simply spoil it for those who will be trotting along later this week. And for those keen bloggers out there look out for Decor8’s Holly Becker today, she’ll be giving a seminar called “Blogging your way for Designers”, I’m deeply upset that I can’t make it to see her but if anyone can fill me in please